Holder: No jail for Risen

9/4/14 5:28 PM EDT

Attorney General Eric Holder reaffirmed Thursday that the Justice Department will not seek to jail New York Times reporter James Risen in connection with a criminal case charging a former CIA officer with leaking national security secrets to the journalist.

During a press conference to announce a broadened probe of the Ferguson, Mo. police department, Holder was asked whether he stood by statements he has reportedly made in private meetings insisting that Risen is not at risk of being jailed for contempt despite prosecutors' success in defeating his legal effort to avoid testifying against his alleged source, Jeffrey Sterling.

"We will deal with the issue that you have raised, you know, in an appropriate way and consistent with what I have said on a number of occasions, and what you just quoted," Holder said.

Risen faces no charges at the moment, although various press freedom groups have continued to express fears he could be jailed for contempt—notwithstanding repeated indications from Holder and even President Barack Obama that won't happen. The attorney general indicated Thursday that Justice Department is committed to pressing on with the prosecution of Sterling despite the standoff with Risen.

"I think that case was appropriately charged. It is a case that we intend to see through to the end," Holder said.

If the Justice Department is intent on prosecuting Sterling, it hasn't done much recently to move the case towards trial or some other resolution. It's been more than three months since the Supreme Court turned down Risen's petition to take up his claim that reporter's privilege should protect him from being forced to reveal his source.

Procedurally, the case remains at the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, awaiting issuance of a formal remand to the district court. That notice, known as a mandate, hasn't been issued yet. However, Sterling's defense attorney said Thursday he plans to move next week to ask the appeals court to kick the case back down to the district court for trial, if the appeals court hasn't acted by then.

Asked about Holder's comments saying he is determined to see the case through, defense attorney Ed MacMahon Jr. said: "He and I share that. I was ready to try this case two years ago. We're determined to see this case through to the end, too."

MacMahon said Sterling has had difficulty getting work during the nearly four years that have elapsed since his indictment. "This is too much uncertainty for any human being to have to shoulder," the defense lawyer said.

An attorney for Risen declined to comment on Holder's remarks, but MacMahon suggested they remain short of a rock solid guarantee that prosecutors won't try to force Risen to testify.

"People can hope people will do certain things, but all it is is a hope," MacMahon said.